{"id":7416,"date":"2021-01-29T09:37:21","date_gmt":"2021-01-29T14:37:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?p=7416"},"modified":"2021-01-29T09:43:56","modified_gmt":"2021-01-29T14:43:56","slug":"fwd-episode-234-yukon-diary-sunday-auust-26-1962-to-sept-9-1962","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?p=7416","title":{"rendered":"Fwd: EPISODE 234 YUKON DIARY SUNDAY AUUST 26, 1962 TO sept. 9, 1962"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Begin forwarded message:<\/div>\n


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From: <\/b><\/span>ALAN SKEOCH <alan.skeoch@rogers.com<\/a><\/a>>
<\/span><\/div>\n
Subject: <\/b><\/span>EPISODE 234 YUKON DIARY SUNDAY AUUST 26, 1962 TO sept. 9, 1962<\/b>
<\/span><\/div>\n
Date: <\/b><\/span>January 27, 2021 at 10:54:40 PM EST
<\/span><\/div>\n
To: <\/b><\/span>Alan Skeoch <alan.skeoch@rogers.com<\/a><\/a>>
<\/span><\/div>\n


<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
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EPISODE 234    YUKON DIARY   SUNDAY AUGUST 26, 1962 TO Sept 9,1962<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
alan skeoch<\/div>\n
Jan. 2021<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
<\/div>\n
Mystery photo.  Either taken at beginning of Yukon job (i.e.  no beard on my face) or at<\/div>\n
a later job on North Shore of Lake Superior.  Camps always similar.   First set up sleeping<\/div>\n
tent\u2026then latrine\u2026then construct kitchen  furniture for kitchen tent.<\/div>\n

Each camp needed a kitchen which I got good at constructing.   Hope you agree.   When  we <\/p><\/div>\n

left one camp for another I do not remember what happened to our food supply.  Given  away\u2019<\/div>\n
I think\u2026but not the rolled oats or the peanut butter or the pork and beans.   This picture looks  like<\/div>\n
an advertisement for Minute Rice.
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<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
 I cannot be sure where this kitchen camp was located.  My green and black  bush shirt was with me in the Yukon.  But this camp<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

kitchen looks too well stocked for the Yukon job.
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<\/div>\n
By end of job I  had  nice full red beard<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
I  am wearing the same green and black bush jacket as first photo\u2026but have beard.   This bush camp is  not as neat however.<\/div>\n

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Sunday August 25, 1962<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
8 a.m. Had coffee at Luigi\u2019s and  drove to Silver Titan where Dick, the Japanese cook,<\/div>\n
insisted I have bacon and  eggs with all trimmings.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
A very dreary day with no one around. I unloaded part of the Turam gear<\/div>\n
then continued  on to Rio Plata where Bill Scott made me another hot rum<\/div>\n
and we continued packing the Turam gear.   Axe and  I then drove  on up<\/div>\n
to Jack Acheson\u2019s to pick up the huge Mammoth tooth.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
We got into a fierce rainstorm back at the Rio Plata camp.  Dumped all <\/div>\n
the Turam  gear at Silver Titan and  then drove to town for supper and<\/div>\n
a shower.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Hans Bahr is very excited about the anomalies we  found on their property.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Axe and Bill Scott are still very sick.  Axe paid  back the $30 he borrowed in Whitehorse.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Monday, August 27, 1962<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Packed my crate full of antlers and ancient miners tools\u2026shipped to Toronto\u2026100 pounds<\/div>\n
cost me $33.00\u2026had supper with Gilroys then drove back north to Silver Titan camp<\/div>\n
using Ruth McGurlay\u2019s truck,  Nice  supper cooked by Dick.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Got boys together\u2026Terry Doubt and  Bill Andrechuck.   Bill Dunn showed me his<\/div>\n
new dog\u2026part wolf.  And his new  car, a 1951 Pontiac,  How can he afford a car even if<\/div>\n
11 years old?  Amusing character.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
We   drove into a new property North of us and began assembling the equipment in<\/div>\n
another new camp\u2026a loose term as  a camp is always short term and  not pretty.<\/div>\n
Andy brought a bottle of  Lindemsn\u2019s Port to celebrate our new location.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Expenses  meals  $3.50. tape  $2.20<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Tuesday August 28, 1962<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Up at 7.30 with long day ahead of us.Terry and I packed grounding rods  and  reel of cable<\/div>\n
to the south end  of Base Line #1.  Back to camp to do same for North end of BL #1.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Built a table  then settled down by candlelight.   Traded  stories in evening as usual.<\/div>\n
Seems that bush  camp workers have  a never ending number of  stories some of  which<\/div>\n
might even  be true.  The hookers of Keno City in the 1920\u2019s are favourite subjects.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Wed.  August 29, 1962<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Up at 6, out by 7.45 in pouring rain.  Managed  to get 12 lines  done which is  half  the property.<\/div>\n
Both Terry and Andy are good  men in the bush\u2026no complaining.  The wet bush makes  work<\/div>\n
really miserable.  A big fire and billy can of tea was nice at lunch. (Billy can is just a fruit can with wire<\/div>\n
for hanging over open fire).<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Picture taken in late August as the trees are beginning to change colour\u2026Fall season is short\u2026then winter.<\/div>\n


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Came across 20 blue geese as tame as chickens<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
In the evening Terry and  I made beds from long poles.  Cooked  by candlelight\u2026not good.<\/div>\n
Got some custard  ready and we  all ate from the pot.  <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Picked  up  large anomaly\u2026largest yet in the Yukon.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Thursday August 30, 1962<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
UP at 7, out by 8\u2026finished  B.L #1\u202612 lines.  A wet long day.   Terry tells some damn good<\/div>\n
stories\u2026i.e. the bear that nearly got him on a glacier\u2026.and  the girls he had  success with.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Went to bed at 6.30 \u2026 telling each other stories in the dark.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Bill Scott is working in the other tent using our Coleman lantern.   Andy decided to cook apples<\/div>\n
tonight but pot boiled  over. Bit of a mess. Applesauce was edible. Overall things are fine now that we have a tin wood<\/div>\n
stove in the tent as  nights are getting colder.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Terry regaled us with with story of a woman he met in Haileybury, Ontario.  Funny.  Sensitive.  Terry<\/div>\n
knows my friend Bob Tyson back in Ontario.   Laughed  a lot in the darkness.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Diary\u2026now reconstructed after 58 years.<\/div>\n

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Friday  August 31, 1962<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Slept late\u20269.30\u2026then got fellows up for a  hasty breakfast.  Ice in the water bucket .  Rolled up Base Line #1<\/div>\n
and  laid  out Base Line #2.  Packed in  the motor generator and got everything working \u2026even managed<\/div>\n
to do  4 lines finishing at 6.30 pm.  Not pleasant.  We are not  tourists\u2026work to do.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Extremely cold weather.  We needed  a big fire at noon just to get warm.   <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Andy is really bitching today as  he wants to get back to Mayo Landing tomorrow evening as<\/div>\n
his First Nations woman wants him back fast.  Not  sure how true that is\u2026he  drinks a lot.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Terry gave a whole load of tips on women.  True?  Maybe.  Bill Scott gave all of us Hot Rum<\/div>\n
drinks while Terry read  poetry of Robert Service.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
The Northern Lights  lit up the night sky tonight\u2026flashing  across the darkness  like lightning bolts.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Our dinner plates were frozen to the table before we had  time to dry them.  Now that is cold.<\/div>\n
Stacked up pile of  firewood in our tent.  We will try to keep stove going all night. Must be careful as<\/div>\n
stove is just tin plate\u2026could get red hot and very dangerous.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Trying to pound in grounding rods \u2026 snow and  ice on the ground.<\/div>\n
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Saturday Sept. 1, 1962<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Up at 6 and got out in bush by 7.30. Finished  C.L. # 3 by noon.   Had good lunch of cold french<\/div>\n
toast and bacon\u2026and  hot tea over the bush fire.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Andy is determined to get  to Mayo Landing \u2026 decided to hike over the mountain to Silver Titan<\/div>\n
leaving us at noon.  Terry and I pulled ground rods and coiled  cable.  Bill Scott helped<\/div>\n
carry out some of the load.   Terry and I heard  a scream and rushed down the trail thinking<\/div>\n
Bill was  in trouble.   Instead we met Bill and Mr and  Mrs. Gilroy drinking beer.  Bill gave<\/div>\n
me a can of beer and a pile of mail.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
We  put our food  up in a cache where bears could not get it then packed out several loads<\/div>\n
of the heavy equipment.   I ripped the ass  out of my pants  again so had to keep facing<\/div>\n
Mrs. Gilroy.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Terry and I hopped in the back of the Gilroy truck\u2026a bitterly cold northern night.  We stopped<\/div>\n
at Elsa for beer then drove on to Mayo Landing\u2026delighted the little girls there\u2026so cute\u2026then<\/div>\n
dinner at Luigi\u2019s  and a drink with Andy and Ted in the Silver Inn.   Quite tragic to see Andy\u2019<\/div>\n
so drunk\u2026and  Ted sitting there in his own urine as it trickled down his leg to the floor and out the door.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Met Henry Robachuk  who offered me a set of caribou antlers.  Amazing how many  friends  i now<\/div>\n
have in Mayo  Landing\u2026end  of third month here.<\/div>\n
(Note:  I got the Antlers  from Henry and not from Moses as previously mentioned\u2026or<\/div>\n
maybe they were both involved  in the gift(<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Expenses  $1.85  meals<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Sunday  September 2, 1962<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Packed some of our gear.  Visited Mrs  Moses and bought moccasins\u2026.$20 for two pair\u2026Took<\/div>\n
load of  waste to the dump.  Gilroys\u2026then visited Mrs.Robachuk and got the caribou antlers.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Bob Gilroy bought a case of beer from the bootlegger and  gave each of us  a  can.  Poor Bob<\/div>\n
Gilroy is an alcoholic which  is very hard on Mrs. Gilroy who is a  very kind and  extroverted French<\/div>\n
Canadian lady.  Bob is great guy\u2026charismatic\u2026but wonder about his future.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Drove back to the Silver Titan  camp where Dick, the cook, fed us  all \u2026 seemed surly today.<\/div>\n
Too much alcohol around today. Mrs. Gilroy and the little girls Patricia and Susan fled in tears.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
(*Note:  As mentioned earlier Mrs.  Gilroy committed  suicide around Christmas  time in 1962.<\/div>\n
I  was  informed  by some of the boys still in Mayo Landing.   Alcohol would not be a reason\u2026<\/div>\n
but would be a complicating factor..<\/div>\n
I wondered what would happen to those two little girls)<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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<\/div>\n
Mayo Landing airport<\/div>\n


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Monday Sept. 3, 1962<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Dick had  great breakfast for us today.  Then I washed 8 pair of  dirty socks  before starting<\/div>\n
work.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Terry and I  packed motor generator, 2100 feet of coiled wire, 4 rods,  sledge, etc.  into the<\/div>\n
old C.L. #2 of Silver Titan in preparation for a day of Turam work.tomorrow.  Too  many<\/div>\n
swamps to slosh through\u2026water is icy.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Northern lights are spectacular.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
When drive shaft falls out;   Bill Scott giving advice \u2026 note U. of T. Engineerng jacket.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Bill Scott<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

Bill Scott\u2026first day on the job in June.<\/div>\n

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Tuesday Sept. 4, 2021<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Up ar 6\u2026cook provided<\/div>\n
6 slices  of bacon, 2eggs,2 pancakes,  3 cups of orange juice<\/div>\n
and coffee.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Terry Doubt, Jim Coyle and I packed carried rest of  Turam  equipment in to C.L.#2 at<\/div>\n
Silver Titan.   Started  motor generator and read  lines 10, 15, 17, 20 on East side of  loop.<\/div>\n
Left off line 18 because  10 degrees off proper grid. Survey error.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Packed  equipment uphill to the road.  No easy matter as  each of us  had  60 to 70 pound <\/div>\n
packsacks.   Poor John Coyle had  just come off a two to three week bender\u2026drunk in other<\/div>\n
words.  We  really thought he would have a heart attack,  We Left packs at side of road  and hiked<\/div>\n
into town.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Bill Dunn reported we can expect snow any time\u2026for sure next week.   Bill Scott got<\/div>\n
us another hot rum drink \u2026 for all crew.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Nights are getting very cold.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Wednesday Sept. 5, 1962<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Snow.   All pipes and pails with water now frozen.  Steve drove us to job site.  Then Jim Coyle,<\/div>\n
Jack Gillis, Terry Doubt and I packed Turam equipment in to the new prperty which is very wet\u2026swampy.<\/div>\n
Did lines 132, 134, 134, 128, 126, 122\u2026.all west lines.  <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Feels like December back home.  Ice  on all the small ponds, snow flurries most of the day.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Did all my washing in the wash basin in evening.  Two letters from Marjorie  Now starting to<\/div>\n
get serious about plans to return home..the long way rather than the direct flight from Whitehorse.<\/div>\n
I want to get the full Yukon experience which means Skagway\u2026need to know more about the<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Treadwell mine disaster on Douglas Island near Juneau.  Know so  little about these big events<\/p><\/div>\n

that are keyed to a man  called  Livingston Wernecke.  Hope to discover.<\/div>\n

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Thursday Sept. 6, 1962<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Motor trouble today\u2026likely dirty gas.  Cleaned  the carburetor.  Broke the governor by accident.<\/div>\n
scraped  carb  with a spoon.  Walked out to road and borrowed Hans  Buhr\u2019s Land Rover then<\/div>\n
on to Elsa for repairs.  Had the master mechanic do some spot welding on the governor..excelent job.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Hard drive back to camp then walked  down Proctor\u2019s Road to site\u2026not much of a road, more like a track..<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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put things back together<\/div>\n
and completed the layout\u2026116, 118, 120, 124, all on west side of base line.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
I feel relieved..proud of myself getting  repairs done and survey done  But my legs<\/div>\n
are very sore.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
I hope I can  get some work on the side for the next few days\u2026tagging claims  for Hans Buhr\u2026I will<\/div>\n
need the money for my escape route from the Yukon.   It will be a tight trip. Have some money but<\/div>\n
not enough.  Will take a chance anyway\u2026be  a  shame to miss Dead Horse Pass, Skagway,<\/div>\n
Juneau\u2026all landlocked places\u2026mysterious  places.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Friday, Sept. 7, 1962<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Muggy day\u2026reclaimed cable from BL #3 and talked with Hans Burr in morning.   Read  book in pm.<\/div>\n
Our last day and Silver Titan was slow and  uncomfortable.  <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Pleasant feeling now job is  over and the weight of the world  off my shoulders.<\/div>\n
This has been fascinating job but very stressful at times.   Yukon hills are not hills.  They are<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

 6,000 foot mountains.
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<\/div>\n
Drove to Mayo Landing with Steve Rudnicki \u2026 slept on floor of  the Tim-o-Lou Motel basement.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Visited Bob Gilroy and got job tagging claims for a day\u2026a little extra money.   <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Had a Tom Collins at the bar and later a glass of sauterne white wine and shot of<\/div>\n
rye with Bob Gilroy\u2026hard on my stomach I fear\u2026gut ache.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Have got really attached to Mayo Landing and all the characters I have met\u2026even<\/div>\n
the drunks.  Often drinkers have nice personalities.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Saturday Sept. 8, 1962<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
My idea of sleeping on he floor was not a good idea\u2026.bad  night.  Had breakfast <\/div>\n
at Luigi\u2019s.  Dirk and Ray were there.  Dirk put on quite a show  by vomitting\u2026food<\/div>\n
poisoning\u2026mild.  <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Bill Scott and I went to the airport to make  sure the bags got away.    Cold, bleak<\/div>\n
day in the Yukon.  Later  we went back to the Gilroys and jointly presented a bottle<\/div>\n
of sauterne ($4.50) which  may not have been  a good idea.   Perhaps better than<\/div>\n
a bottle of rye whisky though.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
I arranged  to take the little girls, Patricia and Susan to the movies after our<\/div>\n
supper at Luigi\u2019s   The show  was terrible\u2026John Wayne at his worst\u2026killing Indians.<\/div>\n
Patricia fell asleep.  Susan seemed happy about the movie.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Bob Gilroy  showed us his new discovery on Silver Titan\u2026good stock market<\/div>\n
opportunity for us but we had no money.   Stock  tips are to always accurate.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Expenses   $5.50<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Sunday Sept. 9, 1962<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
My last Sunday morning in Mayo Landing.  Had biscuits for breakfast, read a little\u2026in<\/div>\n
afternoon I helped  Bob Gilroy cutting brush.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Made  arrangements to do the tagging of  claims.<\/div>\n
\u2026What  a nightmare that turned out to be\u2026ice about an<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

inch or two thick in the swamps where claim posts were located.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u2026feet freezing wet\u2026silence\u2026armed with a rifle and compass\u2026so<\/div>\n
even my final work day in the Yukon was no picnic.   We arrived  in<\/div>\n
the Yukon two weeks after the ice was swept down the Stewart <\/div>\n
River\u2026and  we left the Yukon as  the ice began  to return\u20263 months<\/div>\n
later.  Now there is  One nice event though!  The goddamn mosquitoes froze to death.
<\/p>\n
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<\/div>\n
YUKON DIARY   to Sept. 9, 1962..END  OF THE JOB.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

<\/div>\n

NEXT EPISODE:   PERSONAL  PLANNED ESCAPE FROM THE YUKON<\/p><\/div>\n

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<\/div>\n


<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Begin forwarded message: From: ALAN SKEOCH <alan.skeoch@rogers.com> Subject: EPISODE 234 YUKON DIARY SUNDAY AUUST 26, 1962 TO sept. 9, 1962 Date: January 27, 2021 at 10:54:40 PM EST To: Alan Skeoch <alan.skeoch@rogers.com> EPISODE 234    YUKON DIARY   SUNDAY AUGUST 26, 1962 TO Sept 9,1962 alan skeoch Jan. 2021 Mystery photo.  Either taken at beginning […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7416","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7416","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7416"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7416\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7416"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7416"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7416"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}